Neutron scattering for the analysis of membranes

Abstract

The advantageous use of neutron scattering techniques for the determination of membrane structures is described. Constituents of biological membranes show much larger differences in their scattering factors for neutrons than for X-rays, permitting the assignment of chemical groups to features in the Fourier map. Deuteration of particular components further enhances this difference and can be used to phase neutron data similar to the heavy atom technique of protein crystallography. Methods of contrast enhancement using H2O and 2H2O exchange, as well as secific deuterations, are outlined with examples from studies of sciatic nerve myelin artificial membranes and retinal rod outer segments.